[phillamb168]

 

Well you know the good lord Jesus Christ drank grape juice, not wine, after all.

 

Perhaps we can tell them that I named my CAP after an Alabama infantry regiment that fought near my house, and that it's a shame that the great citizens of Alabama can't do the same in their basement? I mean, there's a beer with something related to Alabama in FRANCE, land of freedom-haters! It can't stand!

--- for those of you living in Alabama, I'm really sorry. The drinking age is 18 over here and da yout are a lot more responsible than the kids I grew up with.

[Pinski]

One more reason to dislike Auburn.
GO DUCKS!

Seriously though, really sorry to hear about this setback. Hopefully you can rally the needed support in the future.
War Damn Eagle!

[mxstar21]

Man, that is too bad.  I can't believe it is still illegal there. 

[tygo]

That's really unfortunate.  How many states are left where it's not legal?  Is it just Alabama and Mississippi?  I know progress was made in Oklahoma and I believe Louisiana in the last year.

[bluesman]

This is a setback but don't give up hope. Being against the odds is a tough predicament but is not the end all. In fact it allows for a renewed effort. There is a need for education and awareness amongst the parties to be. My bet is that we will overcome this roadblock and move forward in due time.

As our case is new, we must think and act anew.
Abraham Lincoln

[SpanishCastleAle]

When I see something like this the first thing I think is that there can only be two reasons for it: corruption and/or stupidity.  Based on the comments by these legislators we obviously can't rule out the latter but to have such a hard stance on it implies, at least to me, that the former is also involved.

[weithman5]

  These legislators are an embarrassment. 

most legislators are an embarrassment.  most of them probably couldn't hold a job that a teenager could do. if it weren't for politics they would be living in cars and boxes.   then maybe they would be greatful for a little fermented grain drink

[ccarlson]

Just goes to show how important it is to research everything before you move to a new state. Was the AHA involved in this?

[jeffy]

By the way, a kilo of marijuana is a misdemeanor, but being in possession of a single pint of homebrew is a felony.   It is also a felony to have any equipment that could be used or has been used to make beer or wine.  Like say, a large pot...

Your signature line says that there is no law against it.  I don't understand.

[Tim McManus]

Let's move the AHA Conference to Alabama.  It probably generates a ton of revenue, so that's an attraction.  And then let's move the National Competition to Alabama to judge a few rounds.  Again, more state revenue for the coffers.

Of course none of this would be approved by the legislator.  That's where the money comes in.  Start telling people that their arcane laws prevented $XX,XXX from coming to the state.  Then talk about the tax that would generate more revenue on the sale of raw ingredients that goes to out-of-state vendors.  How much beer is brewed locally in the state?  Probably not that much, so there's more revenue leaving the state.

You need to take the issue and add dollars to it.  There are few things that can incite or excite people, and money is one of them.  So when the shrinking budget discussions start, so should the loss of revenue because of these laws.  Then you'll get people's attention.

Also, this legislation should be bolted onto something else.  Talk to the bill sponsors and see if there is a way to better position it, tie it to revenue, and then attach it to a larger bill.

It's a stretch, but you could show that a good potion (unknown to me) of homebrewers go on to start commercial operations (as brewpubs and breweries), which in turn generate a considerable amount of tax revenue for the state and jobs in the local communities.

Money talks.

[SpanishCastleAle]

By the way, a kilo of marijuana is a misdemeanor, but being in possession of a single pint of homebrew is a felony.   It is also a felony to have any equipment that could be used or has been used to make beer or wine.  Like say, a large pot...

Your signature line says that there is no law against it.  I don't understand.

I think what the sig line is saying is that Alabama has it bass-ackwards.  Generally, something is legal unless there is a law making it illegal.  It doesn't work the other way around...unless you're either corrupt or stupid (which it should be obvious by now that the 'Bama Legislature are at least one of those things and probably both).

[Gary Glass]

Having worked with Alabama homebrewers since John Little got this whole process started four years ago, I really thought this was the year we would see homebrewing legalized in the state. 

Even though the outcome this year is extremely disappointing, especially with so many of the bill's co-sponsors voting against it, the Alabama homebrewers who have pour their hearts and souls, and probably some IPA, into the campaign to get homebrewing legalized, should take great pride in the work they have done.  I am very impressed with their dedication to this cause.  This year, it seemed everything was going right, and from my vantage point, I just can't see anything that could have been done differently to get a better outcome.

Hopefully in the coming days we'll get a better sense of what really went down with the House vote on HB266 and can reevaluate our approach for the future.

Gary

[udubdawg]

Having worked with Alabama homebrewers since John Little got this whole process started four years ago, I really thought this was the year we would see homebrewing legalized in the state. 

Even though the outcome this year is extremely disappointing, especially with so many of the bill's co-sponsors voting against it, the Alabama homebrewers who have pour their hearts and souls, and probably some IPA, into the campaign to get homebrewing legalized, should take great pride in the work they have done.  I am very impressed with their dedication to this cause.  This year, it seemed everything was going right, and from my vantage point, I just can't see anything that could have been done differently to get a better outcome.

Hopefully in the coming days we'll get a better sense of what really went down with the House vote on HB266 and can reevaluate our approach for the future.

Gary

yeah what's the story there?  Why sponsor a bill and then vote against it?  Was it amended, or do they just enjoy bringing stuff up for discussion just so they can shoot it down?

[dbeechum]

Why sponsor a bill and then vote against it? 

Pure speculation here, but usually the problem is someone very loud finds out about the bill and then brings pressure to bear against the politician that wasn't there when they sponsored the bill.

In this case, maybe what happened was an organization with strong influence "The Religious Anti-Alcohol Front" (not real, but it sounds like an ironic punk band). They found out about the bill at the last minute and had hteir supporters loudly contact the legislators in question ("Won't you think of the children being exposed to demon booze? If you don't, we won't vote for you!")

The AHA has similarly rallied the troops in the past for things in line with our concerns like when they're about to introduce a law that would have inadvertently outlawed homebrewing competitions here. We rallied to get the legislation modified to clearly allow what we do.

Most politicians spend their time, not legislating, but campaigning to avoid losing an election. It's a fear driven business.

[richardt]

Like Gary said, let's wait a few days and see what really happened.  Eventually someone (like a sympathetic aide) will talk and tell you what happened and why.  Follow the money (donations have to be reported--but you might have to wait till the end of the year to see the list).  My guess is that someone (e.g., beer distributor) or some coalition (e.g., bar owners, package stores, restaurants) who makes money on commercial beer sales, doesn't want y'all staying home and drinking your homebrewed beer when you would otherwise be buying theirs.